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(No Model.)

0. 0. MORRIS. Potato Assprter.

No. 242,956. Patented June14, 1881.

INVENIQR ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS Pholmmhugnphar. Washinglun. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES O. MORRIS, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

POTATO -ASSO RTE R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 24=2,956, dated June 14, 1881.

Application filed April 22, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES 0. MORRIS, of Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Potato-Assorters, of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of my improvement, taken through the line mm, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

The object of this invention is to facilitate the assorting of potatoes.

In the accompanying drawings, A represen ts the supporting-frame, the forward end of which is made the higher.

To the top cross-bars of the frame A is attached a grate formed by attaching longitudinal bars B to cross-bars O. The bars B should be a little wider at their upper than at their lower sides to guard against any potatoes sticking fast between the said bars. The bars B should be secured adj ustably to the cross-bars (J by pins or other suitable means, so that they can be placed wider apart or closer together, as the size of the potatoes may require. A convenient way of doing this. is to pivot the central bar B to the inner ends of pairs of bars 0, and then form slots in the other bars B to receive pins attached to the said bars 0, so that the bars B can be moved closer together by turning the outer ends of bars 0 into an inclined position, the inner ends of said bars 0 being hinged to the center bar of the frame A. The slats or bars B are adjusted at such a distance apart that the larger potatoes cannot pass through the spaces between the said bars, but will roll down the said bars and fall from the lower ends of the bars into (No model.)

a box, 1), or other receptacle arranged to receive them. The soil and the smaller potatoes fall through the spaces between the l0ngitudinal bars of the grate B O and drop upon the screen E, made of wire or other suitable material and attached in an inclined position to the frame A a little below the said grate B G. The soil falls through the meshes of the screen E to the ground, and the potatoes roll down the said screen E and fall from its lower end into a box, F, or other receptacle placed to receive them.

Side boards or flanges, G, can be attached to the sides of the side bars B, to prevent the potatoes from rolling off at the sides of the grate.

By this construction the soil adhering to the potatoes will be rubbed off as the said potatoesroll down the grate B O and screen E, so that they will pass into the receivers D Ffree from soil. 7

If it is desired to assort the potatoes into more than two grades, other grates or screens can be added; but generally two grades will be sufficient.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- In a potato-assorter, the combination, with the grate-bars B, having slots H, of the pairs of cross-bars O, pivoted at their inner ends to the center bar B and to the supporting-frame A, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said grate-bars can be adjusted at such distances apart as the size of the potatoes may,require, as set forth.

CHARLES O. MORRIS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM HOLT, B. B. HUToHINsoN. 

